Chuck E. Cheese In My Wood Pile

[Mr A]

I had noticed a small rats nest a while back in a loose pile when I was stacking it. I stepped out late last night for a smoke, and a big fat rat ran from the corner of the yard into the wood stack. I flipped the light on a few times and I could see it poking its head out from under a pallet. No vegetable garden, compost pile. I don't know what it might be eating, garbage cans are tall plastic bins with heavy lids. I pick up the dog droppings and no dog food left out. I have an oak tree in the yard, it's probably stashing acorns. I'm on city lot, 8,000 sq. ft, so not a lot of room to keep the wood. I knew there was probably a rat in there, dog was always sniffing around, the nest, little signs, but seeing it creeps me out. Has anyone used a bucket trap? Do they work? Other type of rodent control that is effective?

 

[rideau]

Yes, they work...I've only got mice, but I hear they are just as effective for rats.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Is it too big for a big glue board with peanut butter on it?

 

[osagebow]

Big victory snap trap. Get him eating peanut butter near the unset trap, then set it and nail him. Attach an anchor wire to a a split.Then you can get the trap back to catch others that are probably there.

Or a 10 pump bb gun

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Big victory snap trap. Get him eating peanut butter near the unset trap, then set it and nail him. Attach an anchor wire to a a split.Then you can get the trap back to catch others that are probably there.

Or a 10 pump bb gun

I like your attitude, lol

 

[Trooper]

Mr A, we have your answer. It's called the Victor Rat Zapper. It has great reviews so we picked one up and had a kill on the first night. Check it out at: http://www.amazon.com/Victor-M240-Electronic-Rat-Trap/dp/B000LNX06C.

 

[rideau]

Or get a wheaten terrier....

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Mr A, we have your answer. It's called the Victor Rat Zapper. It has great reviews so we picked one up and had a kill on the first night. Check it out at: http://www.amazon.com/Victor-M240-Electronic-Rat-Trap/dp/B000LNX06C.

That looks great.... Does it work on squirrels if need be?

 

[Applesister]

Rats are extremely smart when it comes to traps. I use poison bait chunks. The green waxy things. If you have other livestock you can get PVC pipe about 3' and push the "bait" into the middle. Poison is best when you have a colony issue. You can wipe them all out at once.
Be dilligent they are destructive if they infiltrate buildings.

 

[Trooper]

That looks great.... Does it work on squirrels if need be?

One of the reviews we read indicated that a squirrel had been caught & zapped. Would imagine that if the squirrel could fit inside, the trap would be effective.
The tactical maneuver we used was to bait the trap on the first night, but disarm the zapper. That gives the varmint a false sense of security. Then, once the rodent successfully dined, we repeated the process but this time armed the trap. Bingo!

 

[Paulywalnut]

One of the reviews we read indicated that a squirrel had been caught & zapped. Would imagine that if the squirrel could fit inside, the trap would be effective.
The tactical maneuver we used was to bait the trap on the first night, but disarm the zapper. That gives the varmint a false sense of security. Then, once the rodent successfully dined, we repeated the process but this time armed the trap. Bingo!

Ouch!! I love little chipmunks. I would hate to see one get zapped by mistake.

 

[BrianN]

Fortunately, we don't have a rodent issue. We have about a dozen neighborhood cats that come through our yard and take care of anything that they can catch.

 

[gzecc]

5 gallon bucket with water about 1/3 filled I think might work.

 

[rideau]

My aunt has this (a bucket trap) set up in her crawl space. She catches 7 or 8 mice every day! I'm only 50 acres away...and get, typically, two or three mice a year in my basement.

The bucket traps definitely work for mice, and I'm sure would work for rats, as long as big enough so they cannot keep their heads out of the water, and deep enough so they cannot scramble out....depends how big your rats are. My mother's in Maui are HUGE. Norway rats can swim.....I might be tempted to go with the zapper if there is any significant rat problem, as long as you don't have a curious cat or dog. That looks big enough for either to get at least head into....

 

[The Beagler]

I've trapped them in a small havahart trap that is made for squirrels/chipmunks. I'll bait it with sunflower seed & set it right before dark. Don't put it out in the open. Set it by the corner of the woodpile or an area near the nest where they might feel protected & not vulnerable. Check it first thing in the morning & you should have a rat inside. Keeping piles of wood on the ground seems to attract them. I stopped doing that & now split & stack my wood as soon as I get it.
They also will move to higher ground when they get flushed out of storm sewers from heavy rains.
Also a bait called "Rampage" is good too. Tractor Supply carries it.
Don't let Chuck E. get too comfortable, because he'll breed like ...well, a rat! Lol!